The Moroccan international Zakaria El Ouahdi, defender for KRC Genk, has been crowned Belgian Lion 2025, an award that recognizes the best player of Maghreb origin playing in the Pro League. The Moroccan full-back succeeds Algerian Mohamed Amoura.
The 23-year-old player received 40.5% of the votes, ahead of Algerian Adem Zorgane (32%, Union Saint-Gilloise) and his compatriot Sofiane Boufal (12.7%). Following in the rankings are Ahmed Touba (10.3%) and Abdelkahar Kadri (4.5%), both of whom are Algerian internationals.
Indispensable to Genk last season, El Ouahdi played 40 matches, scoring 8 goals and providing 2 assists. This season, he has already recorded 4 goals and 1 assist in 9 matches, before suffering a shoulder injury during the Europa League match against Ferencváros. After a violent collision, he was carried off the pitch on a stretcher and has not played since.
This award marks his rise and confirms his status among the most influential players in the Belgian league, as well as one of the most promising Moroccan full-backs in Europe.
